Sequence tuner



Nov. 26, 1946.

M. J. PIFER ET AL 2,4 1,754

SEQUENCE TUNER Filed July 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 44 1 242077 72 5 5 I LI 7 73a Q? 69 BY (P. Q

ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1946.

ISEQUENCE TUNER M. J. PIFER ET AL Filed July 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 44h 3a Q2 22a V 2 1 T ig 4 204 i ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1946.

M. J. PIFER E TAL, 2,411,754

SEQUENCE TUNER Filed July 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 59m 25 36 i6 5 73 4 d a 74 39c 68 49 9 BY 0. Q

Patented Nov. 26, 1946 SEQUENCE TUNER Marion J. Pifer, Williamsville, Carl F. Carlzen, Buffalo, and Harold J. McGarvey, Eggertsville, N. Y., assignors to Colonial Radio Corporation,

Application July 4, 1945, Serial No. 603,130

11' Claims. (01. 74-10) This invention relates to a tuning unit for radio receivers, and more particularly to what is known as a sequence tuner; that is, one in which the apparatus may be pre-set or adjusted to operate, in response to the pushing of a single button, to tune successively, in a predetermined order, each station of a previously-selected group 01 stations.

Such tuners are particularly useful in automobile radios where the tuning may be controlled by a single push button mounted on the steering column or by a foot switch mounted on the floor. Each closure of the switch operates the tuning mechanism to change frohr'one station to the next, in the order for which the app t has been previously pre-set. When the last station of the group has been tuned in, the next operation of the switch causes the mechanism to tune in the first station, and the station tunin cycle begins again.

Among the objects of our invention may be mentioned:

To provide a tuning unit in which the mechanical parts, the electrical components, and the dial indicator may be built complete as a single unit for installation in the receiver.

To provide such a mechanism capable of easy pre-setting or calibration to receive any one of a number of selected stations.

To provide such aunit including a manual tuning knob, the operation of which. is not interfered with by the sequence tuning mechanism and which requires no preliminary operation, such as pushing in the knob, indexing to especial setting, pushing a special button, or the like, in order to tune manually.

To provide such a unit having a dial pointer formed as a part of the tuning unit.v

To provide such a tuning unit which may be easily pro-set or adjusted to select desired stations without the use of tools of any kind, and which can be set up by anyone.

To provide a unit which is relatively small, compact, light in weight, and of high mechanical efilciency. To provide such a unit with interlocking safety features preventing the possibility of damage to the parts through incorrect operation.

To provide such a unit which will unfailingly tune closely to desired stations, without requiring excessive and unusually small tolerances in the mechanical parts. r

To provide a unit of such design and construction that it is substantially free from backlash, and in which normal wear does not destroy the improper tuning of in accordance with our invention,

Fig, 2 is a vertical section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the tuner in normal position,

Fig. 3 is a section on lines 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the tuner,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation with part of the housing broken away to show internal construction,

.Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the solenoid, its core, and the bail which is operated thereby,

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 2, but showing the mechanism in the position it takes when the turret has just finished the forward half of its stroke and tuned a new station, with the latching part M distorted about shaft i511 to bring it into view,

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 5, but showing the mechanism in the same position as the parts in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of turret l3 similar to Fig. 3, showing the notched rocker bar it,

Fig. 10 is a section on lines iili@ of Fig. 9,

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are horizontal sections on line H-l l of Fig. 8,

Fig. 141s a horizontal section through the rocker bar bearings showing clutching mechanism taken on line i li 4 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 15 is a section on lines l5-l5 of Fig. 14, showing shape of bearings.

The following brief summary of the construction and operatlonof our tuner, it is believed, will facilitate an understanding of the more detailed description appearing later.

In accordance with our invention, signal selection is accomplished preferably by what is known as permeability tuning; that is, the movement of iron cores In (Fig. 2) into and out of coils ll of the tuning circuits; but it will be understood that other tuning instrumentalities may be employed, such, for instance, as the movement of copper slugs into and out of the coils. The movement of the tuning instrumentality is preferably linear, andsuch linear movement is derived from rotary movement of tilt or rocker bar ii.

The angular position to which tilt or rocker bar I2 is set determines the position of the variable tuning instrumentality and, therefore, the frequency of the tuned circuits and the station to be received. The tilt or rocker bar is operated by selector turret l3 (Figs. 2, 3) mounted for both axial and rotary movement, and carrying a number of adjustable selector screws Ma, Mb, 14c, Md, and He arranged with their axes parallel to the axisbf rotation of the turret.

When the turret moves axially, driven, for example, by a solenoid energized by closure of the sequence tuning switch, one of these selector screws engages one rod i2a oi the tilt bar,- and the other rod 92b of the tilt bar is engaged by hub 08a of turret it, adjusting the tilt bar, and by it, the tuner, to the position corresponding to the pre-set station. Rotation oi turret it to bring difierent selector screws ida, Mb, ilc, Md, and Me into position to engage the tilt bar provides for selection of difierent stations.

Turret it is normally out of engagement with tilt bar it, during which time the manual tuning knob i5 is clutched to the tilt bar. When the turret moves forward to change the station tuning, the manual knob is de-clutched from the tilt bar, which is thereby left free to rotate to the position determined by turret i3; and when the turret reaches the end of its forward stroke, tilt bar it has been moved to the position corresponding to the new station, and that station is tuned.

Immediately afterward, turret l2 executes its return or indexing stroke and near the end there-.

of is given one step ofrotation preparing it to tune the next station in sequence. At the same time the manual knob is re-clutched to tilt bar it so that'manual tuning may be accomplished without any preliminary operations, such as pushing in the knob, pushing a manual button. or the like. 1

Calibrating or pro-setting the apparatus for desired stations is accomplished by means of gears ltd, 8th, the, ltd, and the, one of which, in the forward position of the turret, meshes with gear it mounted on manual tuning shaft the. These gears are normally disengaged, but may be engaged in the forward position of the turret by pushing in the manual tuning knob against its spring bias. Turning the manual tun= the knob under such conditions tunes in the de sired station and pre-sets the selector, by adjusting the selector screw to the proper position to tune the station.

Mechanical interlock id is provided to prevent depression of the manual tuning knob except when the turret is in forward position where it can be adjustedto set up stations. This interlock it may be mechanically tied to the sequence tuning switch, if that switch is mounted on the receiver chassis, and it may be arranged to hold the manual knob out of pre-setting position so long as the sequence switch is not energized. and

also to hold switch engaged while knob is ole pressed for station set-up.

Turning now to the more detailed description I of the construction and operation of our tuner,

the mechanism is housed within a suitable casing 2d, preferably of metal, generally rectangular in shape, and of approximately the dimensions indicated on the drawings, which are actual size. Extending through the housing we provide manual tuning shaft the, the outer extremity of which carries manual tuning knob it.

and may project through an opening in oflset lip 200. on the front of the housing. At its rear end it may rest in bushing i5c carried by the rear face of housing 20. Adjacent to its front end, inside the housing, this shaft may carry tubular gear i1 pinned thereto.

Shaft i5a' is biased to the forward extremity of its movement by means such as spring iib surrounding shaft I51: and confined between offset face 20a of the housing and pin led extending through the shaft. The forward extremity of its motion is reached when the forward end of tubular gear i'i abuts against the inside face of offset shoulder 20a.

Gear ll is at all times in mesh with gear 2i. Gear 2!, having sleeve 2M. secured thereto, is mounted for rotation on carrier rod 22, which extends through housing 2t, and is secured in position by nuts 22a and 221: engaging the threaded ends thereof. Spring washer 23 may be interposed between gear 2i and the forward face of the housing, and the position of gear 29 lengthwise of shaft 22 may be determined by collar Ztmounted on carrier rod 22 and secured thereto as by pin 26.

G'ollar or tube Zlb of resilient friction material such as rubber may surround sleeve Zia. This collar 2ib, secured on sleeve Zia, serves to drive tilt bar it upon manual tuning through sector- This shaft is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable and also slidab e ania ly. and at its front shaped plate 25 having a knurled face and carried by bracket 2e secured to end plate 2i of the tilt bar assembly.

Tilt bar it is preferably formed by two end plates El and 28, joined by the two contact rods i212 and i227. These rods are not symmetrically placed with respect to the center of rotation of tilt bcI- l2, rod l2a being somewhat larger in diameter and placed further from the center of rotation of tilt bar i2 than rod Mb. The entire tilt bar assembly is mounted for rotation on bearings 29 and til (Fig. 3). Bearing 29 may be adjustably screw threaded into housing 269 and secured in adjusted position by nut 2am. V type bearings are preferably used in the end plates 2i and 23 with springs 2M and 28a to hold the bearing studs in the V's. This eliminates any possible play in bearings.

The lower end of end plate 28 of tilt bar 02 may extend below manual tuning shaft leg and be connected by link ti to slider 212 carrying permeability cores it. From this it will be seen that as tilt bar i2 rocks in its hearing, it carries with it slider 82, moving cores it into and out of their respective coils to vary the receiver tuning.

The upper end of end plate 26 may project beyond housing 26 through opening 88 and carries pin 86 carrying ball to engaged by double link 86. The opposite end of link 23o may engage sec-- ond ball 37! carried by pin 38 secured to bell crank leegver 3b pivoted on the top of the housing, as at The other end ill of bell crank lever 89 may be pivoted to an intermediate point of fork 32, the fork portion of which is arranged to slide in a roove on stud 353 mounted at the rear side of housing 263. $ecured to the forward end of fork 62 there may be provided pointer 36,; which cooperates with a dial indicated in dotted lines.

A clutching engagement between sleeve 2M and sector it is normally provided by means of a piv-= oted pressure bracket 3b (Fig. ii, Fig. 12) pivotally mounted on stud it for a slight rotary movement in the plane of the paper except when the solenoid is operating the tuning. Pressure plate 48 is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 3 by clutching of sector 25 to collar Zia, the sector may be secured to tilt bar end plate 21 by means of the small spring plate 49. When the solenoid operates, pin 46 is moved forward, coming opposite depressed portion 50 of pressure arm 45. Pressure is no longer applied to sector 25, and the latter, moving slightly counter-clockwise, springs out of contact with sleeve Zia, permitting the tuning of the receiver without driving gear 2| and manual tuning shaft Ia.

At the same time, the constant clutching engagement between sector 25 and sleeve tic, except when the solenoid is being operated, permits manual tuning at any time without the necessity of performing a special operation on the tuning shaft. or pressing a manual button as has heretofore been necessary in all such apparatus with which we are familiar, nor does manual tuning interfere with the sequence tuning operation, because, no matter what the initial position of the apparatus may be, operation of the turret to select a particular pre-set station will always set the apparatus to tune to that station.

The structure b which this is accomplished will now be described. Mounted on carrier rod 22 for both endwise sliding movement and rotation, we provide turret l3. This turret has central hub iiia and surrounding it with their axes paral el to carrier rod 22 we have provided a number of selector screws l4a, 14b, i4c, ti/and l4e, spaced equiangularly around turret iii. In the embodiment shown there are five of these selector screws whereby the tuner may be pre-set or calibrated for five different stations.

It will be understood, however, that if desired, a larger or smaller number of selector screws may be provided. to accommodate a larger or smaller number of stations.

Each of the screws passes through a suitable opening in flanges 50 and 5| of turret l3, and the longitudinal adjustment of each screw may be controled by its particular adjusting gear nut 16a, I62), I60, ltd, and We, internally threaded to engage the threads of its respective screw, and positioned at an intermediate point on its respective screw, held against accidental disturb= ance by means of anti-friction washers 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d. and 836.

The outer surfaces of gears 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, and 52a have teeth of the pitch to engage with tubular gear ll when the turret is in the forward extremity of its position and manual shaft 15a is pushed inwardly. When this occurs, rotation of shaft i511 rotates adjusting nut ita, i622, iBc, iSd, or Hie, as the case may be, and thereby moves the particular screw forward or backward in th turret.

To facilitate assembly and adjustment or" the screws Mia, Mb, M0, M42. and its, each of the holes in flanges 5d and 5t are preferably reamed out, and the screws themselves are preferably ground to provide an accurate, smooth fit and prevent undue backlash or play of the screws in the turret. To prevent rotation of the screws when the adjusting nut is turned, we prefer to provide a series of longitudinal slots We, 96b, 90c, 90d, and Bile (Figs. 2, 8) extending from the rear of the turret to flange 50, and a corresponding key pin 98a, 9lb, Slc, Sid. and Me. in each selector screw Ha, Mb, I40, lld, He, each pin riding in its respective slot.

To limit the backward adjustment of each screw. we may provide a circumferential groove 92 at the rear end of the turret in which we may place spring retaining ring 93. To remove any screw, ring 83 is removed, after which rotation of the adjusting nut works the screw out of the holes in flanges 50 and 5|.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. '7 that contact rod lid of the tilt bar engages the bottom selector screw, whereas upper bar l2b does not engage any selector screw, but always engages the front or hub l3a of the turret. To prevent contact between the two top selecting screws and the top of rod 621), which might otherwise occur if the selecting screws projected out too far, rod tfib may have notches formed in it to prevent contact and jamming, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Mechanical power for the sequence tuning operation may be supplied by solenoid 54, having slidable core 56a. When the solenoid is energized, core 5%, normally in the full line position of Fig. 6, is drawn intothe dotted line position. The core may have a slot out near its end as at 541) for engaging cross member of ball 58, pivoted as at 56c and 581) on housing 2!], spring biased to full line position as by means of springs 51 and 58.

As will be observed from Figs. 2 and 5, the turret may have a groove 59 formed near its rear end and cross member 55 of bail 56, which is slightly offset at one end, passes through this groove. When the solenoid is energized and its core moves to the dotted position shown in Fig, 6, bail 5% is carried to the dotted position shown in Fig. 6, and the engagement of cross member 55, lying in groove 59 in the turret, carries the turret to the forward position shown in Fig. 7, whereby the tilt bar is swung to the position determined by the adjustment of the adjusting screw in contact with contact rod iZa of the tilt bar.

In order to prevent possible mistuning or jamming of the apparatus, which would result if the turret moved forward while out of position with respect to its rotation, we prefer to provide key 59a extending inwardly from the top of the hellsing and engaging corresponding key slots 68a, 66b, Bile, 66d, and tile in the rim of flanges 5i and 5i.

It was previously stated that on the return half of the turret stroke the turret is given one step of rotation to index it to the nextstation. In this particular embodiment, with provision for five stations, the amount of rotation introduced on each stroke will be 72, but in any case it will. be equal to 360 divided by the number of stations which the apparatus can handle.

The structure by which this rotation is accomplished will now be described. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 8, it will be observed that there are five pins, tic, Gib, tile, did, and tie, projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the turret, these being spaced at the same radial distance from the center and spaced apart by equiangular distances, in this case 72.

Positioning pawl 62 is mounted for oscillation on bushing the on the rear face of the housing. This is provided with pressure face 64 turned over in position to be engaged by actuating screw carried by ball 56. The pawl 62 terminates at its outer extremity in a wedge-shaped nose portion 61 adapted to fit between any two adjacent pins such as 6 lo and 6 Id. This pawl is spring 7 having one end secured to the housing and the other end secured to some part of the free end.

It will be observed that there is a slight clearance provided between adjusting screw 65 and pressure plate 64. This is provided so that as ball 58 swings, the turretwill first be moved forwardly to clear pins 6 lo and 8ld from pawl 62 before the latter is swung clockwise by the engagement of as the turret moves forward the-latch end moves in; and when lever 62 clears it, the latch takes the position shown in Fig.- 11, holding lever 82 in the position shown in Fig. 8 until the turret again returns. When this occurs, the latch spring is pushed backwardly as in Fig. 12, and it will be noted that when the latch finally releases lever 82, its nose 69a is now in position to engage the next pin of sequence Bla, Gib. Bic, Sid, and

Ble. I

When the latch finally releases lever 62, the pressure of spring 68 restores lever 62 to the position shown in Fig. 5, rotating the turret through 72. Thus, if the apparatus started in the position shown in Fig. with pin Bid at the bottom, in the last portion of the return stroke lever 82 will rotate turret one step counter-clockwise, as seen in this figure,and Blb will now be at the bottom. Each successive operation of the solenoid will thus cause tuning to the station next on the tuning cycle and on the return stroke of the turret it is rotated by the amount necessary to index for the following station.

All that now remains to be described is the action of the interlock, which prevents pushing the manual tuning shaft into calibrating position except when the solenoid is energized. For

this purpose the sequence switch indicated dia grammatically as 10 may have operating plunger ll provided with knob or button 12. Plunger,

provement, or combination which we claim as our invention or discovery. P

While we have shown and described certain preferred embodiments 01' our invention, it will be understood that. modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as will be clear to thoseskilled in the art. 1

may extend through the switch and project from the rear thereof, where it may be pivoted to bell crank lever 13 pivotally secured to any suitable mounting bracket.

The free end 14 oi. bell crank lever 13 may normally abut against manual tuning shaft-alto, and the latter may be provided with collar I5 seof bell crank lever 13, and prevents inward displacement-oi the manual tuning knob.

When, however, the operator depresses knob 12 to closeswitch 10, ball crank lever 13 is rotated clockwise by an amount sumcient to clear collar 15, and manual tuning shaft Ilia may now be pushed inwardly to engage tubular gear ll principles, so as to distinguish our invention from other inventions; and we have particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the part, im-

cured thereto, which ordinarily engages end '14 We claim: r

- 1. In a sequence tuner, in combination, a positionable element, a tilt bar connected thereto for actuation thereof, a turret, mounted for. rotation and axial translation, engaging said tilt bar on opposite sides of the tilt bar axis of rotation and setting it to one of a predetermined series of angular positions, and means for imparting a work and indexing stroke to'said turret, said .work stroke being an axial translatory movement, and said indexing stroke being a predetermined increment of rotation. 2.--The combination claimed in claim 1, in Y which said turret carries 'a number 01' adjustable elements for engaging one side of said tilt bar, and a non-adjustable portion engaging the other side of said tilt bar.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1, in

which said turret carries a number of adjustable elements adjacent its periphery for engaging one side of said tilt bar, and a non-adjustable P rtion closer to the center of rotation of said turret for engaging the other side of said tilt bar.

4. The combination claimed in claim ,1, in which the tilt has two engageable portions at diiierent distances from the center of rotation of the tilt bar, and in which said turret carries a number of adjustable elements ifor engaging one side of said tilt bar, and a non-adjustable portion for engaging the other side oi said tilt bar.

5. The combination claimed in claim 1, in which saidturret carries a number of adjustable elementsfor engaging said tilt bar, said elements being longitudinally adjustable, but fixed against rotation. g a

6. The combination claimed in claim 1, inwhich said turret carries a number of adjustable elements for engaging said tilt bar, said elements being longitudinally adjustable, but fixed against rotation, and each provided with an adjusting nut intermediate its ends arranged for rotation -to eifect longitudinal adjustment of its element.

7. The combination claimed in claim 1, in which said turretcarries a number of adjustable elements for engaging said tilt bar. said elements being longitudinally adjustable, but fixed against rotation, and each provided with-an adjusting nut intermediate its ends arranged 'for rotation to effect longitudinal adjustment of its element, said adjusting nuts being provided with external gear teeth, a manual tuning shaft carrying a driving gear, one of said adjusting nuts meshing with said driving gear when the turret is at the end of its work stroke.

8. The combination claimed in claim 1, in which said turret carries a number of adjustable elements for engaging said tilt bar, said elements being longitudinally adjustable, but fixed against rotation, and each provided with an adjusting nut intermediate its ends arranged for rotation to eflect longitudinal adjustment of its element, said adjusting nuts being provided with external gear teeth, a manual tuning shaft carrying a driviing gear, one of said adjusting nuts meshing with said driving gear when the turret is at the end or its work stroke, and said manual tuning shaft being axially movable to mesh said driving gear 10 11. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the means for imparting an indexing stroke to said turret includes a spring-biased pawl engaging the turret, means for shifting said pawl after predetermined axial movement of said turret, means for latching said pawl in shifted position, and means for releasing said pawl as the turret returns to starting position to permit said pawl to rotate said turret to a new position.

MARION J. PEER. CARL F. CARLZEN. HAROLD J. McGARVEY. 

